“Rex has decided, by abundance of caution, to immediately remove from service and quarantine all propeller gear boxes and shafts of the same series as that of the incident for further inspection and testing if warranted,” Rex said in a statement on Monday.

The airline is yet to confirm how many planes have been impacted.

Sixteen passengers and three crew on the Rex aircraft endured a nightmare flight after one of its propellers sheared off in mid-flight.Source:Supplied

The engine was shut down on Friday following “abnormal indications”. That action “feathers” the propeller in order to reduce drag.

It was at this point that the propeller assembly separated and rotated upwards and to the right of the aircraft, which was carrying 16 passengers and three crew members.

“The propeller was seen rotating in a horizontal position and then moving away without making contact with the aircraft,” Rex said on Monday.

“Both passengers and crew reported that the flight thereafter was smooth and the landing was normal in spite of bad weather at Sydney with winds exceeding 35 knots.”